Season 3 of the L&D Go Beyond Podcast continues with a thought-provoking conversation between host Venudhar Bhatt and Mike Stein, instructional designer, researcher, and founder of ID Atlas.
Together, they explore one of the biggest questions currently facing the learning and development industry: can traditional authoring tools keep up with the speed, flexibility, and possibilities introduced by AI?
As AI rapidly reshapes workflows across industries, the discussion moves beyond surface-level conversations around automation and efficiency to examine a much deeper shift taking place in eLearning and instructional design.
The episode challenges long-standing assumptions about course development, authoring tools, learning workflows, and even the role instructional designers may play in the future.
At the center of the conversation is a simple but important idea: are learning teams still approaching workplace learning with a course-first mindset when the needs of learners and organizations are rapidly changing?
In this episode
Mike shares insights from his widely discussed research study comparing ten eLearning authoring tools against traditional workflows built in Articulate Storyline.
The conversation explores how development speed, user experience, and modern cloud-based workflows are beginning to challenge the dominance of traditional authoring tools.
A major theme throughout the episode is the growing tension between:
- Traditional eLearning workflows
- Ai-assisted learning development
- Learning effectiveness vs production efficiency
- Standardized courses vs adaptive learning experiences
The discussion also dives into how instructional design itself may be evolving.
Rather than focusing only on building long-form courses, Mike and Venudhar explore why learning teams are increasingly moving toward:
- Microlearning
- Just-in-time learning
- Spaced repetition
- Practice-based learning
- Performance support
- Ai-assisted simulations and role plays
The episode also unpacks how AI coding agents and emerging technologies may allow learning teams to rethink how learning experiences are designed, prototyped, and delivered.
At the same time, the conversation remains grounded in practical realities, including:
- Governance and privacy concerns
- Maintaining learning quality
- Balancing efficiency with effectiveness
- Business continuity and scalability
- The future role of instructional designers
A strong point throughout the episode is that AI alone is not the answer. Instead, the conversation explores how learning professionals can use AI to extend creativity, accelerate workflows, and focus more deeply on solving real performance problems.
Key Takeaways
- Traditional authoring workflows are being challenged by AI-assisted development
- Faster course production does not automatically mean better learning outcomes
- Microlearning and just-in-time learning continue to gain relevance
- Cognitive science principles like spaced repetition and the forgetting curve matter more than ever
- AI coding agents may significantly change how learning experiences are created
- Instructional designers may evolve into broader learning architects and performance consultants
- Learning teams need to think beyond course-first approaches
- The future of workplace learning may rely more on adaptability, personalization, and performance support
Tune in to the episode
Listen to the full conversation for an honest and practical discussion on AI, instructional design, microlearning, authoring tools, and where workplace learning may be heading next.
Connect with Mike Stein
LinkedIn: Mike Stein LinkedIn
Website: ID Atlas
